Letter of the day
The limits of energy savings
Tuesday 1 letter letteris July.
With us, in energy debates, energy savings are in the foreground. Reduce meat in food and airplane flights, replace the car with the bicycle and the Oman sultanate holidays with stays in Val d’Anniviers, lower the thermostat in winter and so on.
Switzerland wants to reach carbonic neutrality by 2050. Energy saving measures constitute an important element of the strategy proposed by the Confederation., In 2050, the average Swiss should be satisfied with around 51 gigas joules (14,000 kilowatt hours). This represents a reduction of 43% compared to 2019. Total energy consumption in Switzerland should decrease by 757 to 523 Péta Joules.
There is nothing to complain about, but if we look beyond our borders, it becomes obvious that the energy savings on a global scale are unrealistic. The thirst for energy is enormous, especially in the very populated countries of Asia and Africa. Compare, for example, Switzerland and India
India also has plans for 2050. The target of energy consumption per person, 52 gigas joules, is comparable to that of Switzerland. But it is almost three times more than in 2019, and taking into account the increase in the population, total energy consumption will increase by 26,000 to 90,000 peta joules, to be linked with the 234 peta joules saved in Switzerland.
The air of large Indian cities is already often irrespirable and the most emblematic monuments such as the Taj Mahal, are attacked by pollution. Over 90 percent of Indian energy needs are covered by fossil fuels. What a disaster in sight if these 90,000 peta joules continued to be produced by burning coal! The Indians will seize all the opportunities. Outdoor, they have a very active nuclear energy program.
India is not alone. Among the 10 most populated countries, 9, India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, Congo, Ethiopia and Bangladesh will increase their energy consumption in 2050 compar report on 2020. The only exception: the United States.
Bernard Hirschel is professor of medicine. He hosts a vlog on energy and climate issues
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